Answering the country’s need for more supplies of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for the frontline workers, the Department of Science and Technology–Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) now mass produces medical face shields.
Initially, DOST-MIRDC produced 3D-printed face shields that were distributed to our modern-day heroes who are bravely fighting COVID-19. To produce more, DOST-MIRDC transitioned to plastic injection technology allowing them to increase production volume by up to 2,500 pieces of face shield frames per day.
The plastic injection mold was fabricated at the Die and Mold Solution Center (DMSC), a facility within the DOST-MIRDC compound in Bicutan, Taguig City. Mass production of the face shield frames is also being done in the said facility.
“With the mass production of the medical face shields being done simultaneously in Laguna and in Taguig, we can assure the enhanced protection of our frontliners,” says Engr. Fred P. Liza, chief of the Materials and Process Research Division and project leader of the DOST-MIRDC’s Advanced Manufacturing Center.
To further augment the supply of face shields, partner organizations such as Team Twilight Men Only (a private group composed of managers from the semiconductor industry) and the Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines donated 6,000 pieces and 23 rolls of acetates, respectively. Other donors were Manly Plastics, Inc., Prima Plastics, and the University of the Philippines Visayas (in cooperation with Frabelle Fishing Corporation, Inc., and Philippine Fishing Gear Industries, Inc.) that donated 300kg, 1200kg, and 1000kg of polypropylene (PP), respectively.
Other technology partners also joined DOST-MIRDC in this cause. Omnifab fabricated another injection mold, while the Megasamsotite Plant in San Pedro, Laguna became another site for mass production of the face shield frames. They can also produce up to 2,500 face shield frames daily.
DOST-MIRDC, realizing the need for more PPEs, is calling on organizations, both from the public and the private sectors, for donations of more raw materials. With one (1) ton of polypropylene, they can produce 25,000 face shield frames. DOST-MIRDC believes that this collective effort will help save the lives of our gallant and selfless frontliners.
The DOST-MIRDC has started packaging and distributing the face shields to various hospitals since Monday, 06 April 2020. For inquiries about the medical face shields, send messages on facebook (facebook.com/dostmirdc), or e-mail at (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). (Information from DOST-MIRDC)
The plastic injection mold for the face shield frame fabricated at the Die and Mold Solution Center inside the DOST-MIRDC Compound in Bicutan, Taguig City. (Photos from DOST-MIRDC)
The plastic injection machine is housed inside the Die and Mold Solution Center in the DOST-MIRDC Compound in Bicutan, Taguig (left); Team MIRDC engineers and technicians carry out mass production of the face shield frames (right).
(Photos from DOST-MIRDC)
